In its 2025 Sustainability Report, Coles said the bird flu outbreaks in Victoria were the main reason it will now be accepting cage eggs until 2030.
The original commitment was to phase out all caged eggs by 2025.
“This step is necessary to help stabilise national egg supply for our customers, who consistently tell us egg availability is important to them,” the report said.
“We take the welfare of animals very seriously and are committed to maintaining more than 85 per cent cage-free branded shell eggs and achieving our exit of caged eggs in the long term.
“Coles Own Brand shell eggs will continue to remain 100 per cent cage-free.
“While we have made changes to the branded shell egg component of this commitment, we are very close to achieving the further goal of 100 per cent cage-free eggs in Coles Own Brand ingredients, and we remain committed to achieving this target.”
VFF Egg Group president Brian Ahmed said recent outbreaks has highlighted the need for all three farming systems — caged, barn and free-range — in maintaining food security and food affordability for all Australian families.
“In times of bird flu outbreaks, caged egg systems are vital to ensuring a reliable supply of eggs across Australia,” Mr Ahmed said.
“A phase-out of caged eggs only accelerates the uncertainty for farmers, disrupts supplies, and puts massive pressure on food affordability for consumers.
“We encourage retailers and policymakers to work closely with farmers to ensure that animal welfare standards improve, without compromising farm viability or consumer access to affordable eggs.”
Mr Ahmed also called on farmers and domestic chicken owners to remain vigilant as we enter the peak migratory bird season, which traditionally heightens the risk of diseases entering the country.
Victorian Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell spoke in Parliament about the announcement, saying Coles completed the “duopoly of disappointments”.
“Australia has committed to banning battery cages in all states and territories by 2036, and after mounting public pressure over the suffering inflicted on hens Coles had initially pledged to go cage-free this year,” she said.
“Now the current pledge has been pushed back all the way to 2030.
“But for hens forced to endure life in these cages, this is far too long; they cannot wait a single day longer.
“Keeping chickens locked in cages in crammed conditions is a recipe for zoonotic diseases and should actually be an argument for moving away from the model urgently rather than continuing it to meet demand for eggs.”
Country News reached out to Woolworths to ask how bird flu has impacted its supply chain.
“We’ve already achieved 100 per cent cage-free own brand eggs, and we’ve made significant progress in sourcing cage-free vendor brand eggs,” a Woolworths spokesperson said.
“Biosecurity impacts, such as the recent avian influenza outbreaks, have caused significant supply challenges and recovery continues.
“We are working closely with our suppliers and industry to navigate these challenges, and remain committed to our aim of achieving 100 per cent cage-free eggs for both our own and vendor brands over time, and once supply constraints ease.”
Woolworths said caged eggs represent about six per cent of Woolworths’ egg sales, while being about 32 per cent of national production.
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